Slope indicator



April 21, 1953 o. B. Mlsz 2,635,344

SLOPE INDICATOR Filed oct. 5, 195o FIG. 3 2

INVENTOR OLIVER B. MISZ ATTO NEY Patented Apr. 2l, r1953 SLOPE INDICATOR Oliver B. Msz, Phoeniiz, Ariz., assignor, by decree of distribution, to Dorothy Misz Application October 5, 1950,V Serial No. 188,521

(Cl. V33-145) 9 Claims.

" This invention pertains to slope indicators.

This invention is an improvement on my Patent "No, 2,304,313 issued on an application dated May 17, 1941, and Patent No. 2,308,018 issued to me January 12, 1943 on an application filed July 25, 1941.

l`One of its objects is the provision of an indif` cator which is sturdy, light and easy to use. and will give a direct reading of slope or incline in any desired units with a minimum amount of manipulation;

3 Another object` is, to provide a slope indicator which has no hinged parts, and which is compact, sturdyand not easily gotten out of adjustment; jA Still another object is to provide a slope indicator which has a beam which alfords support for accalibrated arcuate bar, provided with a spirit level and which is curved in an arc having a radius` equal to indicated points of support at the ends of the beam and arranged so that longitudinal shifting of the bar will vary its eiective levelindication and enable the slope of the beam to be determined by direct reading of the calibration indicia thereon with reference to a fixed line on saidbeam. c

e Other objects will appear hereinafter.

I attain the foregoing objects by means `of the devices, construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the indicator as applied to the indication of slope vbetween a pair of track rails;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

I Figur, a side elevation, mid-portion of the indicatorbeam with parts broken away to show interior, and drawn on an enlarged scale;

A Figure4 is a plan view of the indicator beam as shown in Figure 3; Y

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the inner end of `one of the bar retainers drawn on an enlarged scale; i i

Figure 6 is a side elevation of one end of the arcuate slope indicating bar, drawn on an enlarged scale; Y

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of an end portion of the filler block, drawn on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the elements involved in measuring and indicating slopes. i

1 Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the A several views:

this case is the lower end, and the positioning pad and spacer 4, at the opposite' end. These pads form a means for determining the points between which slope is to be determined. A vertically extedning slot 5 is formed in the middle of beam 2,

and is sized to receive the arcuate slope indicating bar 6. The filler block 8 is inserted into the slot from the bottom and held by transverse screws II. Hold down bars ID and I2 are posi-1 tioned in the top of the slot adjacent each end and are held in place by transverse screws 25.

The arcuate slope indicating bar 6 is made of light metal, such as aluminum or the like, has a square section, and is longitudinally curvced in a the top ofthe right hand portion there is an indieating scale I6 which is attached by screws I8. The bottom surface I9 of this bar is'curved as above stated, and is smoothed so as to slide easily on the edges 20 of supporting blocks 22 which are positioned on the downwardly slanting end portions of the top face of filler block 8. These blocks are in separated positions so as to contact the bottom face of bare 6 adjacent its ends. Since these blocks are attached to the slanting end portions ofiblock 8, only the upper edges 20 actually contact bar 6.

Slightly to the left of the center of bar 6 there is a spiritlevel 24 cemented in a slot its upper face. This is positioned so that its tube extends longitudinally relative to the bar and is in determined relation to scale I6.

Y Hold down bars I0 and I2,A which may also be termed retainers, are secured by transverse screws 25 'in the upper portion of slot 5. These are likewise made of metal and have a substantially square section. They t tightly into slot 5 and extend from each end toward the central portion of the slot. l Hold down leaf springs 21 are attached to the bottom faces of each of these bars. 'These springs are each shaped to provide a rounded bend 20` which bears on the top face of bar 6 and maintains it resiliently in contact with supporting 3 a slot 34 in the inner end of the bar. The slide is maintained in position by set screw 35.

Normally the slope indicating bar 6 is free to slide longitudinally in slot as indicated by dotted lines 31 and 31', Figure 3. When it is desired to lock it at any desired position a transversely eX- tending indicating bar lock screw 36 is set up tightly against the side of bar 6. This binds it against the oppositefside of slot. Sand, effectively; locks it in position.

In use, in the exemplification of the device as herein principally concerned, the beam 2 is placed across the rails I4 and I5 with the pads 3,- andrflf.` resting on the rails as shown. In order to determine the slope or slant of the rails `the-barlockn ing screw 3B is released and the bar shifted-tromY left to right by placing the linger; in. socket., I1- until the bubble of spirit level 24 indicates a zero or central reading. The scale I6 is then observed at the measuring; face of adjustable indcatonzi.. 'JhisscaleA can-lbecalibrated-.to reach ini, inchesa of elevation.. as: onef contact pad` bears; to; the other.; llhis is explained by reference to. Figure $.81.; Arcuatebarl 6V isrforme d; with its curvede tcp;` face generated. from the; radius; struckl from; therpointB.. IThis.radiusrisequal to theiradius. R121. which is; struck front they point` P", at; they centen off the-,rightiharrd L4. and. extends; toc theicenter of the; leftihandrail Ii; any distance; that bar 6 mustbe.movedlongtudinally to mainev tain a. level indication of; the. spirit; bubble 2 4-,` Figure-.2; is a= true reection. ofthe. slopemr ofthe change.. in. elevationv liigureY L o one.. railrela-1 -tivevtoithe .opposite rail.

Measurementsof: those; distances which thezbar Ef'has been movedlongitudinally aremadebyobr servationsof. scale iiLat indicator face 30.

Tc correctly position. the. adj ustable.. indicator.` face Sil-loosen set screw y Figure gplacebeain 2 on. a. horizontal plane, position bar 6- to'. bring l'evefllbubble; 24.to.a level indication. and.4 byfuse of. set screwrix. adjustableindicator. 3.2; so that its. face 3G. is: directly over the zero: end of scale; |161 Adjustmentzoff4 indicator facevv 311?. should! be madev'at:.suchy times as1mayfbernecessaryA to compensateforf any` warpingof.r` the beanL that: may take place..

When, theidevice: is used; to indicate` thef slope` between rails, asihere explained,.pad 3f may. be'- provided. with a: lugl 40. which forms a shoulder againstwhich-.rail IAimayrest', and1pad14lmay. beprovided with a lug..` 4k of predetermined! thick.y ness. The outer shoulder may then be usedy to; receive railv ti and" act as atrackf gauge. inspectionatoolwhile thepthicknessrofV thev lug. 4I. may.. bei usedi for` inspection, of spacing betweenv the: mainzrail; and the guardrail. at :switchesiand: the

like.

Primarily, however, theA device. asA here. discloseCLis. best; suitedV to. indicating the slope be.- t-.ween trackrails, particularly onv curves. If. the: slopejsgnot; known. andlistobedetermined, screw. Iltis released. and thev bar 6 moved. longitudinally untilia; level indication isz. obtained.- in level. 2.4;

If the track is to be brought tol a` predetermined.

transverse-.slope the han 6;.is'1ocked at a; predeterminedz position: by screwssand the rails. rela-` tivelyr raised; on lowered. until; a level. indication- 'd ment of slope of oor surfaces, pipe lines, and the like. Also, whereas the measurement of slopes between the rails of tracks is most conveniently given in inches, and wherever measurement is to be made between two separated points the slope may usually be best determined in units of linear measure, it is Within the intendments of the invention that slope may be indicated by ratios, suchasgoneAv inch; per foot, ores' a. trigonometric function, or as a number of" degrees of a circle. The scale I6 may be marked accordingly,

and the pads 3 and 4 removed and the lower edge offbeain positioned directly on an object, the slope of`which is to be determined or indicated. After: removal of: pads 3 and 4 the lower edge of beanr 2: may then be termed a straight edge. In casethefscaleisto be calibrated in degrees of a circle the beam is placed with its lower edge (straight edge) bearing on an object with a horizontal plane face, and the bar 6 positioned in slot 5f softhatv-thefspirit lever showsalerel Yreach ing and so, that, the.. face 3 indicates. zero: on Scale. l 6. This. mayV be,Y a` basey referencev point onf mark.

Measurementalong the upper face oscale LB; for each one degree of arc is then; marked.. asf. predetermined from; thelength., of., the: radius; of the. arc..

These degree marks are" spacedC onc the upper faceV of bar 6 at equalv intervals representingt des grees orI a' circle having a rad-ius' congruenti the; radiusofV the* arc of' thesaid upper facer of the bar: Shifting the bar on its concentricilizavvrer;7 facei on supports 2`` is theu samef asf rotating ani arczlnortioni of acirclQebeneath'the reference face-- 30. Wheneverbeam- 2 is' held; at aV slant (ir-slope and"V bar` 6i moved-1 toL ai'itairr` al level reading on; spirit level 24 the" degree csr-slope can; berea'di on a: scale of; degrees oacircle-market?Y on the,l upper; face off` bar 6.

Other and`- further modicationsA and changes will no doubtsuggest themselves to these"familial'd withvthe artand'; therefore- Iwi'slr toy be limited only by4 the following claims* I claimz' 1%. A- slope indicator comprising; a: beamY having contact` padsateach end; ai vertical slot in its midi-portion` includingV spaced indicati-ng "barrsupi-f ports extending transversely'withinn said slott. arr arcuate indicating bar having lparallel: concentric upper andy lower faces; a spirit levelom it's` upperV face; and ascaleI including indicia; onitsv upper:V

face, slidably'mounted on its-lowerface insaidE slot on saidfsupports so astom'overin anarcuate path determined by the curvefo its lowenace; hold* down barsra't eaclrend oru said slot adapted to resiliently maintainL said baron said#slid'aizil'eJ supports, a vertical reference face onone'offsaidf hold down barsV positioned" above said scalef and a lockL screwl on saidfbeam-` adaptedLv to'- loc-kA said4S arcuate bar in position.

2': slope indicatorv comprising in Vcor-niemation, a beam havingi avertical? slot` adapted? to;y contain a slidable arcuate bar; an arcuate?- havingA an! upper` andiA a. lower.l facer a scalevof slope values@k on said upper` face off said-l bam. andi a spirit level adjacent said scale; tvvozxe'd bean-f ings in said; slot. adapted tot engage the; lower face of said bar and support it sorthat. it; free longitudinal movement.l within. said slot; hold down bars in; saidslot; having lean springs;

., Thesemay,,for;aexample,. includetheimeasureV tba adapted. to; bean onz thev upper: facey of: sai-d han asada@ to resiliently press it on saidfbearings; a fixed indication mark on said beam, from which longitudinal movements of said bar may be observed on saidscale, when it is moved while supported onsaid bearings, and a locking means on said beam adapted to lock said bar against longitudinal movement.` i.

3. A slope indicator, comprising in combination, a Abeam having positioning pads at each end, anda vertically extending slot in the midportiorithereof; a iiller block secured in the bottom portion of said slot having supporting blocks with upwardly extending transverse edges secured to its top face positioned in separate relation adjacent its opposite ends; an arcuate slope indicating bar adapted to slide longitudinally of said beam within said slot with its bottom face slidably supported on said supporting blocks; a scale including slope indicating indicia, extending along one end portion of the upper face of said bar; a spirit level tube set into the upper face of said bar and positioned a determined distance from the indicia on said scale; a nger socket for slidably manipulating said bar on the upper face thereof; hold down bars secured in each end portion of the upper part of said slot having springs resiliently bearing on the upper face of said bar to maintain it in position on said supporting blocks; and a measuring face adjustably secured to the inner end of one of said hold down bars so as to be positioned 'over the scale on said arcuate bar.

4. A slope indicator, comprising in combination, a beam having positioning pads at each end, and a vertically extending slot in the midportion thereof; a ller block secured in the bottom portion of said slot having supporting blocks with upwardly extending transverse edges secured to its top face positioned in separate relation adjacent its opposite ends; an arcuate slope indicating bar adapted to slide longitudinally of said beam within said slot with its bottom face slidably supported on said supporting blocks; a scale including slope indicating indicia, extending along one end portion of the upper face of said bar; a spirit level tube set into the upper face of said bar and positioned a determined distance from the indicia on said scale; a finger socket for slidably manipulating said bar on the upper face thereof; hold down bars secured in each end portion of the upper part of said slot having springs resiliently bearing on the upper face of said bar to maintain it in position on said supporting blocks; and a measuring face adjustably secured to the inner end of one of said hold down bars so as to be positioned over the scale on said arcuate bar, and a locking screw on said beam adapted to engage a side face of said bar and lock it frictionally to retain it from longitudinal movement.

5. A slope indicator for indicating the slope from the horizontal between two objects separated a predetermined distance, comprising in combination, a beam having a centrally positioned vertically extending slot; positioning pads at each end thereof arranged to provide supporting positions for said beam on two objects, separated a predetermined distance, between which slope is to be determined; a iiller block secured in the lower portion of said slot having supporting blocks with upwardly extending transverse supporting edges separated in longitudinally disposed positions thereon; an arcuate slope indicating bar supported within said slot with its lower face bearing on the supporting edges of said' si'ipportingY blocks having a substantially square section, an upper face formed with a longitudinal curve generated from a radius equal to the distance between the supporting positions of said pads on said beam and provided with a scale along one end portion having slope'indicating indicia, a lower-face having a curve concentric with said upper face, a spirit level tube on said upper face disposed adjacent the inner end of said scale, upper face.`

K6i. In a slope indicator, for indicating the slope from the horizontal between two objects separated a predetermined distance, comprising in combination, a beam having a bottom edge provided with positioning pads disposed a determined distance apart, and a slotted central portion; an. arcuate slope indicating bar having a lower face arcuately curved in determined relation to said positioning pads and an upper face provided with a longitudinallyextending scale and a spirit level tube, slidably operative in said slot; longitudinally separated supports within the slotted central portion of said beam adapted to contact the lower face of said arcuate bar and provide support therefor; and a longitudinally variable scale readinglface on said beam positioned above said bar sca e.

7. In a slope indicator, for indicating the slope from the horizontal between two objects separated a predetermined distance, comprising in combination, a beam having a bottom edge provided with pads having positioning lugs disposed a determined distance apart, and a vertically slotted central portion; an arcuate slope indieating bar having a lower face arcuately curved in determined relation to the distance between said positioning lugs on said pads and an upper face provided with a longitudinally extending scale along one end portion and a spirit level tube disposed in determined relation to said scale, slidably operative in said slot; longitudinally separated supports within the slotted central portion of said beam having upwardly extending edges adapted to contact the lower face of said arcuate bar and provide support therefor; and a longitudinally variable scale reading face on said beam positioned above said bar scale.

8. A slope indicator composed of a beam having a straight edge, and two spaced bearings adapted to support an arcuate slope indicating bar, an arcuate slope indicating bar having an upper face curved longitudinally to conform to the arc of a circle and a lower face concentric to said upper face, supported on said beam, with its said lower face bearing on said spaced bearings, so as to slide longitudinally relative to said beam, a spirit level mounted on the upper face of said bar, a scale marked on the upper face of said bar, and a reference face on said beam for reading said scale.

9. A slope indicator composed of a beam having a straight edge, and two spaced bearings adapted to support an arcuate slope indicating bar, an arcuate slope indicating bar having an upper face curved longitudinally to conform to the arc of a circle and a lower face concentric to said upper face, supported on said beam, with its said lower face bearing on said spaced bearings, so as to slide longitudinally relative to said beam, a spirit level mounted on the upper face of said bar, a scale marked on the upper face of said bar, and a reference face on said beam for reading said scale, to determine the longitudinal position of said bar with reference to a base and a finger socket on `said 

